Agriculture: Genetically Modified Crops

The Countess of Mar: To ask Her Majesty’s Government which member of the Government is responsible for the United Kingdom’s approach in the case before the Court of Justice of the European Union regarding the decision of the European Food Safety Authority to allow genetically-modified soya beans to be marketed by Monsanto in the European Union; and whether any organisations are contributing to Her Majesty's Government's legal costs in that case.

Earl Howe: The United Kingdom has a strong interest in the science-based system underpinning genetically modified product applications and so has applied to intervene in this case, which concerns the authorisation of genetically modified food and feed. Any intervention will represent the view of the Government as a whole and the only likely external legal costs will be those from instructing counsel and costs of attending any hearing should that prove necessary.

Agriculture: Pollinators

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the National Pollinator Strategy will include dates and quantifiable targets for actions; whether it will aim to deliver results by 2020 in line with the Nagoya Biodiversity Protocol; and when the Strategy will be published.

Lord De Mauley: The National Pollinator Strategy will guide our efforts in England to safeguard pollination services for agriculture and broader biodiversity benefits. It will describe plans to improve our understanding of the abundance, diversity and role of pollinators over the next three to five years and identify any necessary additional actions and targets to strengthen our response. It will also describe pollinator-relevant actions for government and others to implement now, building on the many initiatives already underway. The National Pollinator Strategy will build on existing plans and commitments agreed under the Convention on Biological Diversity (‘Nagoya protocol’) and being implemented under Biodiversity 2020. A full public consultation on the draft Strategy will be held early in 2014 and the final Strategy published by early summer.

Alcohol

Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town: To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will publish the Chief Medical Officer’s review of safe drinking levels, and their response to it.

Earl Howe: My Answer of 17 June, Official Report, column WA1, on alcohol stated that, if the United Kingdom Chief Medical Officers decide, in the light of the evidence review, to develop new guidelines, we would expect to consult on the new guidelines once they have been developed. It is at that stage that the evidence review would also be published.

Asylum Seekers

Lord Avebury: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the email to all his staff dated September 11 from Glyn Williams, Head of the Asylum Casework Directorate in the Home Office.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: A copy of Glyn Williams' email to staff will not be placed in the Library of the House. The email is an internal staff message and contains confidential information, including Asylum Casework Directorate's restructure plans. These are, as yet, incomplete. Publishing this information would undermine the restructure process.

Asylum Seekers

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what provision is made, or will be made, for the rehabilitation of (1) asylum seekers detained in detention centres whose claims are successful, (2) individuals who have been detained in detention centres and are subsequently released, and (3) individuals who, in exceptional circumstances, are detained in detention centres for a period of (a) 1–2 years, (b) 2–3 years, and (c) three years or more.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: We do not make provision for the rehabilitation of asylum seekers whether detained in detention centres or otherwise.

Asylum Seekers

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their rationale in not permitting asylum seekers, and failed asylum seekers, to apply for permission to work until their claims, or further submissions, have been outstanding for 12 months or more.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: I refer the noble Lord to my answer of 12 March 2013, Official Report, column WA48.

Asylum Seekers

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what procedures are in place to ensure that Home Office decision-making on asylum cases does not prioritise the 60 per cent target rejection rate over the viability of any given case.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The asylum casework directorate (ACD) does not have a 60 per cent target rejection rate for decision making. All asylum cases are treated on their individual merits, on a case-by-case basis.

Asylum Seekers

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Taylor of Holbeach on 30 October (WA 254), in the light of their decision not to appeal the Northern Ireland High Court judgment to quash a removal decision in the matter of the application by ALJ and A, B and C, whether they will now amend the relevant protocols on the admission to the United Kingdom of children of asylum seekers who were first registered in the Republic of Ireland.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The Government has no plans to amend policy or legislation as a result of the decision of 14 August in the Northern Ireland High Court in the matter of an application by ALJ and A, B and C.
	We are satisfied that Ireland is a safe country for the removal of asylum seekers, including children, from the UK in accordance with its position in the list of safe countries at Part two of Schedule three to the Immigration and Asylum (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004.

Banking

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Newby on 14 October (WA 56), whether they can, in any of the three stabilisation powers listed or the one proposed, overrule a vote of holders of bonds and sub-equity instruments issued prior to the enactment of the Banking Act 2009; and whether they are considering this in the current circumstances of the Co-operative Bank.

Lord Deighton: The special resolution regime (SRR), established by the Banking Act 2009, includes three stabilisation options: the private sector purchaser (PSP) tool, the bridge bank (BB) tool, and the temporary public ownership tool (TPO). These options include
	powers to carry out the transfer of shares and other securities or property, rights and liabilities, and to make related provision.
	The Financial Services (Banking Reform) Bill will introduce a fourth stabilisation option, the bail-in option, which will provide the Bank of England with powers to divest shareholders of a failing bank of their shares and other securities, and powers to cancel or reduce creditors' claims to the extent necessary to restore the bank to financial viability.
	The powers under the stabilisation options (including the new bail-in option) in relation to securities apply irrespective of when those securities were issued, and would not be constrained by votes of the holders of those securities prior to the firm entering the SRR.
	Information about the use of the SRR powers and the safeguards for creditors is set out in the SRR Code of Practice, which is available from www. gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/209933/bankingact 2009_code_of_practice.pdf and in the draft annex to the Code of Practice setting out further information about the bail-in option, which is available from www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads /attachment_data/file/248720/Draft_bail- in_annex_to_ the_Banking_Act_Code_of_Practice.docx.
	The Bank of England is the authority with lead responsibility for resolution. The Government has frequent discussions with the Bank of England, at Ministerial and official level, about the full range of firms and across a range of issues. It would not be appropriate to comment on the details of discussions about individual firms.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Lord Newby on 30 October (HL Deb, col. 1579), what is the basis for their view that the European Union created a sustainable peace in Bosnia-Herzegovina; and what effect NATO had on creating the peace.

Lord Newby: Both the EU and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) have played important roles in ensuring peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). From a military perspective, the NATO led Implementation Force (IFOR) was vital for implementing aspects of the Dayton Peace Accords, and its successor, the Stabilisation Force (SFOR), played an important role in stabilising the peace in Bill. The European Union Force (EUFOR) Operation Althea. an EU Common Security and Defence Policy Mission, replaced SFOR in 2004. EUFOR Althea continues to retain a UN mandate to help the BiH authorities preserve a safe and secure environment and to provide capacity building and training for Bill's armed forces. We believe it continues to act as an effective deterrent to those within BiH who continue to question the territorial integrity of BiH.
	On the political side, EU member states appointed Lord Carrington (1991), Lord Owen (1992) and later
	Carl Bildt (1995) as EU Representatives for the Former Yugoslavia, and Co-Chairmen of the International Conference on Yugoslavia. These positions were followed by the creation of an EU Special Representative (EUSR) for BiH in 2002. The incumbent, Peter Sorensen. continues to help sustain the stability of BiH through facilitating reforms related to EAU accession. An EU Police Mission (EUPM) was also active in BiH from 2003 to 2012 and oversaw important developments in the rule of law.
	This Government believes that the strongest way to ensure the long term stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina is through membership of the EU and NATO. The path to membership of both organisations provides an important normalisation and reform process. The UK fully supports the important work of both EU and NATO missions in BiH to help the Bosnians achieve these goals.

Burma

Baroness Jenkin of Kennington: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they will take to encourage Burma’s involvement in Family Planning 2020.

Baroness Northover: The UK Government will continue to support Burma’s efforts in engaging with Family Planning 2020, including though dialogue with the relevant ministry.

Burma

Baroness Jenkin of Kennington: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to take steps to assist Burma in improving the quality of its maternity services.

Baroness Northover: The UK has allocated £80 million over four financial years (2012 to 2016) in support of the Three Millennium Development Goal Trust Fund in Burma. This fund supports access to essential health services for maternal and child health and family planning.

Care: Care Costs

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what forecast they have made of the average amount elderly people will have to spend on care bills before qualifying for state help, as a result of the introduction of the cap on care costs.

Earl Howe: People currently have no protection from catastrophic care costs. The introduction of the cap will limit the maximum amount people have to pay towards their care costs to £72,000.
	Due to the introduction of the extended means test in residential care two thirds of people who reach the cap will pay less than £72,000. This is due to the fact that the local authority contributions will count toward the cap.
	An illustration of the amount that people of different levels of assets could contribute towards their care costs is provided in Caring for Our Future: A consultation on what and how people pay for their care and support (Figure 4 page 37), a copy of which has already been placed in the Library.
	If people choose care which is more expensive care than the local authority would pay they will remain responsible for these additional costs.
	People will also remain responsible for their daily living costs in residential care just as they would meet these costs if they were receiving care within their own home.

Children: Care Homes

The Earl of Listowel: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are considering the impact of obligations on police reporting of crime on avoidable criminalisation of children in children’s homes.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: We expect police forces to record all crimes that are reported to them, in compliance with the established principles that govern the crime recording process. However, we recognise the importance of ensuring that officers have discretion and flexibility in order to deal with offenders by the most suitable disposal available.
	Restorative justice and community-based resolutions are currently used by the majority of police forces as the more appropriate means to respond to low level offending that is perpetrated by young or first-time offenders. Decisions on the appropriate disposal are an operational matter for forces. However, through the new crime outcomes framework, introduced by this Government, forces will inform the public on the number of crimes where no action was taken by virtue of the offenders young age.

Children: Child Abuse

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of mandatory reporting provisions for teachers and care professionals in relation to child abuse allegations in the United States, Canada and Australia; and what consideration has been given to introducing similar provisions in the United Kingdom.

Lord Nash: The Department has looked at a range of research about mandatory reporting, including the impact of mandatory reporting systems in the
	United States, Canada and Australia. Given the various reporting models and different child protection systems in place, there are inherent difficulties in comparing mandatory reporting laws internationally.
	The research is not clear on whether introducing mandatory reporting can result in children being better protected. It can make children less safe by flooding the system with referrals, many of which are not substantiated following investigation. This could divert resource from helping children and families and cause considerable distress.
	Our statutory guidance 'Working Together to Safeguard Children 2013' is already crystal clear that professionals should refer immediately to social care when they are concerned about a child. We believe what is needed is better training and awareness for professionals to understand how to spot abuse and neglect and the impact it has on children.

Children: Child Labour

Baroness Doocey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been done by law enforcement agencies to provide intelligence to local authorities for the removal of children from the worst forms of child labour.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: We consider the worst forms of child labour to be child abuse which is an abhorrent crime and, where this happens, we are committed to ensuring these crimes are thoroughly and properly investigated and those responsible arrested and brought to justice.
	Under section 11 of the Children Act 2004 both the police and local authorities have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Therefore, where the police suspect a child is a victim of trafficking for the purposes of labour exploitation, slavery or servitude they should work in partnership with the local authority to ensure the safety and welfare of the child.

Children: Looked-after Children

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have plans to instruct social services departments to record all children with “looked after” status, resulting from the imprisonment of a parent or carer; and, if not, why not.

Lord Nash: Local authorities collect information on the circumstances for coming into care of all their looked after children, including whether their parents are in custody or prison. Under the Children Act 1989, local authorities have a statutory duty to provide support needed to both the child and to the child’s parents as necessary.
	The Government collects information about looked after children from local authorities on an annual basis and published the data in the Statistical First Releases. Children who are looked after as a result of the imprisonment of a parent or carer are included in the data collection under the heading “absent parenting” – a category used for all children who do not have a parent who can support them.

Children: Sexual Abuse

Baroness Doocey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they intend to ratify the 2007 Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The UK signed the Council of Europe's Convention on the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse in May 2008. An initial examination suggests that the UK is compliant with the vast majority of the Convention's articles, but there are a small number of articles which require further assessment before the UK is in a position to ratify the Convention. In addition to work on the Convention, the Government has set out a comprehensive programme to tackle sexual violence in the action plan of the Sexual Violence Against Children and Vulnerable People National Group.

Crime: Domestic Violence

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they are working to combat any social stigma attached to being a victim of domestic violence.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The Government is committed to challenging the stigma which can be attached to being a victim of domestic violence and abuse. The Home Office has run two recent national campaigns aimed at 13 to 18 year olds to show that abuse, sexual assault or rape are never the victim's fault. The campaigns encouraged teenagers to re-think their views of violence, abuse, controlling behaviour and what consent means in relationships, and directed them to places for help and advice. We will re-launch this initiative later in the year.

Defence: Procurement

Lord Lee of Trafford: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their latest estimated cost of examining the Government-owned, contractor-operated option for defence procurement.

Lord Astor of Hever: The Materiel Strategy programme is currently in the Assessment Phase and is considering two options; DE&S+ and a Government Owned Contractor Operated (GOCO) model. The Concept Phase of the programme started in May 2011 and analysed a number of different operating models. It concluded with the approval of the Initial Gate Business Case in April 2013 and cost £12 million. The Assessment Phase is currently developing both DE&S+ and GOCO options.

Drones

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the use of drones for civilian purposes.

Baroness Kramer: Civilian Remotely Piloted Aircraft operations are closely regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and are treated in the same manner as that of an equivalent manned aircraft; this applies to all aspects of ‘unmanned’ aviation, from the initial design and construction, or airworthiness, through to the safety requirements of how it is flown and operated. This viewpoint is shared internationally.
	For the smaller sized, lightweight systems, which are referred to as small unmanned aircraft—those which are flown at short range and always within the sight of the person flying them—these are overseen to a lesser extent by the CAA, proportional to the level of risk involved.

Education: 14-15 Year-olds

Lord Hanningfield: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to improve and enhance the secondary school teaching syllabus aimed at 14- to 15- year olds, and in particular those who would benefit from vocational courses.

Lord Nash: The Secretary of State asked Professor Alison Wolf to carry out an independent review of vocational education, which concluded in March 2011. The independent review found that urgent action was needed to ensure that the vocational qualifications, 14-15 year olds take, are of a high quality, promote progression into further education or employment and are not so extensive as to prevent students from developing essential core skills in areas such as mathematics and English.
	Following the recent review of the national curriculum, schools will be teaching the new programmes of study from September 2014, except for English, mathematics and science, which will be phased in from September 2015.
	Since September 2013, 14-16 year olds have been able to attend studio schools, university technical colleges and further education colleges through direct enrolment, meaning young people interested in pursuing vocational routes at 14 are now able to study these qualifications alongside the core academic key stage 4 programme.
	The Government has published a list of high-value vocational qualifications and reformed performance tables to incentivise the teaching of these qualifications alongside a core academic curriculum. Young people who started Key Stage 4 in September 2012 are now benefitting from these changes.
	The Government wants to ensure that all young people receive the education which is right for them and will provide the best opportunities for progression to education, employment or training.

Education: GCSEs and A-Levels

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how claims by schoolchildren of headaches, hay fever or noise in the examination hall are currently evaluated when granting extra marks in GCSE or A-Level examinations; and what steps are taken to determine whether the system is being abused.

Lord Nash: This is a matter for the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation and I have asked its Chief Executive, Glenys Stacey, to write directly to the noble Lord. A copy of her reply will be placed in the House of Lords Library.

Education: Nurseries

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to improve nursery inspections; and, if so, how.

Lord Nash: The Government is fully committed to improving all early years provision and a robust inspection system is an essential part of that. The question of how nursery inspections might be improved is a matter for Ofsted, so I have asked Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, to write to the my noble Friend. Copies of his response will be placed in the House Libraries.

Energy: Diesel

Lord Hunt of Chesterton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what studies they are undertaking with industry and universities to establish the environmental, energy and health advantages and disadvantages of diesel as compared to petrol internal combustion engines.

Baroness Kramer: The Government is not currently funding any studies with these specific aims. There is already a significant body of scientific literature on these topics which the Department's officials and specialist contractors are able to draw on in the provision of advice and the development of policy. In addition, organisations such as the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP) and the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) carry out studies and advise Government on these issues.

Energy: National Grid

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the average costs of connecting (1) onshore wind turbines, (2) offshore wind turbines, and (3) fossil-fuelled and nuclear power stations, to the national grid.

Baroness Verma: It is not possible to give meaningful average costs of connecting different sorts of generation to the national electricity transmission system. Generators pay towards the costs of building and maintaining the network through on-going use of system charges. These charges are calculated on an annual basis and reflect the cost that each generator imposes on the network. They vary according to a range of factors which are not specific to a particular generation technology, including the capacity and location of the generator in question.

EU: Biofuels

Baroness Howe of Idlicote: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have received in support of their stated preference for a five per cent cap on the use of biofuels in transport fuel since the last COREPER meeting on 16 October; and whether they have any plans to make further representations to other governments in Europe ahead of the Energy Council on 12 December.
	To ask Her Majesty’s Government how the United Kingdom has engaged with other European Union member states that support a cap on the use of biofuels in transport fuel at around five per cent in order to generate consensus.

Baroness Kramer: The European Commission has proposed a cap of five per cent on the contribution made to the 2020 renewable transport target by biofuels derived from food crops (such as corn, sugarcane and oilseed rape).
	The UK Government has made clear to the European Commission, the European Parliament and all other Member States in the European Council that we support the five per cent cap. We will continue to do so in the run up to the Energy Council on 12 December.
	The negotiations are ongoing and it would not be appropriate, or in the interests of the UK negotiating position, to disclose what support we have received from other Member States.

EU: Charities and Non-governmental Organisations

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the level of European Union spending on charities and non-governmental organisations; and whether the European Union funds any organisations or bodies which promote the European Union.

Lord Deighton: The Government does not have data on how European Union (EU) spending is broken down by type of organisation, such as charitable and non-governmental organisations. EU spending is broken down into hundreds of individual budget lines across all areas of EU expenditure and it is not feasible to get the data required on each one of these budget lines.

EU: Legislation

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to make representations to other European Union member states to propose that national parliaments should have greater powers to amend or recall existing European Union legislation or to lower the threshold of the number of national parliaments necessary to trigger the yellow card procedure.

Baroness Warsi: National parliaments are the fundamental source of democratic legitimacy in the European Union. We are developing ideas to increase the power of national parliaments in EU decision making. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) and the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Aylesbury (Mr Lidington) have both given speeches over recent
	months outlining these ideas and discuss them with their counterparts on a regular basis. Officials in London and in our Embassies have done the same.

Food: Saturated Fat

The Countess of Mar: To ask Her Majesty’s Government upon what scientific evidence they have based their policy to encourage people to eat less saturated fat.

Earl Howe: Public Health England advises that people should consume on average no more than 11% of their food energy as saturated fat. This advice is based on recommendations made to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy (COMA) in 1984, an expert committee who advised the Government on nutrition issues. COMA based its recommendations on a review of the scientific evidence available at the time. Since then, the Government has continued to monitor developments in the evidence base on saturated fat and cardiovascular disease. There is consistent evidence from recent trials to show that reducing saturated fat consumption lowers blood cholesterol which in turn decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Fostering

The Earl of Listowel: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what guidance they give to local authorities about preparing the children of foster carers for the placement of foster children in those families.
	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to undertake research into the best means of supporting the children of foster carers who have foster children placed in their families.

Lord Nash: The Government recognises the important role that children of foster carers play within the fostering household and the need to prepare and support them. Paragraph 5.68 of Volume 4 of the Children Act 1989 Guidance makes clear that fostering services should provide support to the sons and daughters of foster carers. Standard 21.6 of the National Minimum Standards for Fostering Services reiterates this.
	The Government welcomes the recent research published by the Rees Centre for Research in Fostering and Education on the impact of fostering on foster carers’ children. We also welcome, and continue to support, the Fostering Network’s annual Sons and Daughters campaign to celebrate the contribution of foster carers’ children. We have no plans to undertake further research concerning the children of foster carers at this time.

Freedom of Information Act 2000

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 have been turned down by the Home Office since May 2010; and how many of those requests have subsequently been upheld on appeal and fulfilled.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The Ministry of Justice publishes annual statistical reports on the handling of requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for central government. These reports include statistics on the outcomes of internal reviews and appeals to the Information Commissioner. These reports can be accessed on the following webpage: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-foi-statistics.
	Between 1 May 2010 and 30 June 2013, 21 requests to the Home Office were the subject of appeal by the requester or by the Home Office to the First-tier Tribunal (Information Rights). In three cases some information was provided to the requester and the appeal withdrawn. In one case the original response was partly overturned and is the subject of appeal to the Upper Tribunal. In no case was the original response wholly overturned by the Tribunal. Two appeals are ongoing. Between the same dates, two requests were the subject of appeal to the Upper Tribunal. In neither case was the original response overturned. One appeal is ongoing.

Gambia

Lord Avebury: To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they intend to update the Country of Origin Information Service (COIS) report on the Gambia; and whether they intend to require that COIS reports are updated more frequently.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: An updated country of origin information report on the Gambia was published on 5 November 2013 and is available on the Home Office's website:
	http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/policyandlaw/coi/gambia/
	We are considering how to ensure our country information and country policy is aligned to provide readily accessible, up-to-date information and guidance that supports caseworkers in making the right decision. We plan to have new processes and products in place next year.

Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 2000

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Freud on 5 November (HL2881), to which specific part of Schedule 2 to the Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 2000 the techniques and experimental approach described in the previous question pertain.

Lord Freud: The person proposing to undertake such an experiment would have the legal duty to use the information in Schedule 2 in order to decide whether the work is covered by Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 2000 (as amended). Based on the limited information provided in the question, Part III of Schedule 2 would apply in this case.

Health: Care Assistants

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how care assistants are currently being trained; what system is currently in place to ensure that they have been trained to a specific set of standards and to evaluate their performance; and what steps are being taken to ensure proper supervision and support is provided to care assistants.

Earl Howe: Employers have a duty of care to both their employees and service users to ensure that staff are trained and competent to carry out their role.
	Some employers require healthcare assistants (HCAs) to have a Qualifications and Credit Framework qualification at level 2 or 3, whilst others will support HCAs to gain these qualifications post-employment. It is also possible to enter work as an HCA (or senior HCA) through an apprenticeship. Once accepted as an HCA, the employing organisation will provide training so that the trainee becomes competent in the skills required for the job. HCAs will be supervised by appropriately qualified staff and be subject to routine performance management systems.
	Care Quality Commission registration requirements already require staff, including healthcare assistants, to be trained appropriately for the tasks allocated to them.
	The Cavendish Review, published in the summer, highlighted a range of areas where we could do better for our healthcare assistants and social care support workers, their patients and service users. At Report Stage of the Care Bill we announced that we were accepting Camilla Cavendish's recommendation for a Certificate of Fundamental Care, and that we had
	asked Health Education England to work with the Sector Skills Councils and other stakeholders to deliver this. We will be responding to the other recommendations in due course.

Health: Coeliac Disease

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what gluten-free products can be prescribed for patients suffering from coeliac disease under current NHS guidelines; and what products are no longer available since the passage of the Health and Social Care Act 2012.

Earl Howe: A list of gluten-free products, recommended for National Health Service prescription in primary care, can be found in Part XV of the Drug Tariff. Items which do not appear in Part XV may also be prescribed if the prescriber believes there is a genuine clinical reason for doing so. The Drug Tariff is published on-line at:
	www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/924.aspx
	Since 1 April 2012 to 10 November 2013, a number of gluten-free products including bread, pasta and flour have been removed from the Drug Tariff, at the request of the relevant manufacturer. These are listed in the following table.
	
		
			 Gluten-free products removed from the Drug Tariff since 1 April 2012 
			 Date Manufacturer Product 
			 April 2012 Dr Schar UK Ltd Glutafin Gluten Free Savoury Biscuits (125g) 
			 July 2012 Dr Schar UK Ltd Dietary Specials GF White Mix (500g) 
			   Dietary Special GF White Bread Mix (500g) 
			   Dietary Special GF White Cake Mix (750g) 
			   Glutafin Select GF Cake Mix (500g) 
			   Glutafin Select GF Pastry Mix (500g) 
			   Glutafin GF Wheat Free Cake Mix (500g) 
			 August 2012 Ultrapharm Polial GF Biscuits 
			   Bi-Aglut Bread Rolls 
			   Bi-Aglut Bread Flour Mix 
			   Bi-Aglut Plain Flour 
			  Gluten Free Foods Ltd Valpiform GF Petite Baguettes 
			 September 2012 Glebe Farm Food Ltd Glebe Farm Gluten Free White Bread mix 
			   Glebe farm Gluten Free Brown Bread mix 
			  Dr Schar UK Ltd Glutafin Gluten Free Wheat Free Pastry Mix — 500g 
			  Ambe Medical Group Proceli gluten free part baked long white rolls 
			   Proceli gluten free pasta puntini 
			   Proceli Part-Baked Flat Bread 
		
	
	
		
			 November 2012 Dr Schar UK Ltd Glutafin Select 4 Fibre rolls (260g) 
			 December 2012 Dr Schar UK Ltd Glutafin Select 4 White rolls 260g 
			   Glutafin Select 4 Fibre rolls 260g 
			 June 2013 Ambe Medical Group Proceli gluten free pasta capellini short spaghetti x 500g (2 x 250g) 
			   Proceli gluten free part baked white dinner rolls x 140g 
			 August 2013 GF Foods Ltd il pane di anna mixes and pastas 
			   Pasticely pastas and breads 
			 November 2013 Ultrapharm Ltd Ultra gluten free baguettes 
			   Ultra gluten free bread rolls 
			   Ultra gluten free sweet biscuits

Health: Complementary and Alternative Medicines

Lord Willis of Knaresborough: To ask Her Majesty’s Government which homeopathic treatments have been referenced by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence as of benefit to patients; and where the research data on which those judgments have been based are published.

Earl Howe: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has not recommended any homeopathic treatments for use on the National Health Service.

Health: Health Workers

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions have taken place between the Department for International Development and the Department of Health about the migration of health workers to the United Kingdom from low- and middle-income countries.

Earl Howe: The Department has worked together with the Department for International Development to produce a definitive list of developing countries which should not be targeted for recruitment of healthcare professionals. The list is based on the economic status of the countries and how many healthcare professionals are available.
	The United Kingdom has signed the World Health Organization Code of Practice (WHO CoP) on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel and the UK was a member and donor of the Global Health Workforce Alliance.
	National Health Service organisations are strongly advised to adhere to the WHO CoP in all matters concerning the international recruitment of healthcare professionals across all disciplines—including the appointment of medical staff, nurses, dentists, radiographers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and all other allied health professionals.

Health: Health Workers

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the international recruitment of health workers, what discussions have taken place between the Department for International Development and the Department of Health about addressing domestic skill shortages in the United Kingdom health workforce.

Earl Howe: No specific discussions have taken place between the Department and the Department for International Development about addressing the domestic skill shortages in the United Kingdom health workforce.
	The Health and Social Care Act 2012 places a duty on the Secretary of State to ensure there is an effective system in place for workforce planning and the delivery of education and training in the National Health Service and the public health system. As of 1 April 2013, this duty is delegated to Health Education England (HEE). The key purpose of HEE is to ensure that the healthcare workforce has the right skills, behaviours and training, and is available in the right numbers to support the delivery of healthcare and health improvement.
	One of the objectives in the Government's mandate to HEE is to lead a process of improved workforce planning to ensure sufficient staff are trained with the right skills in the right locations to enable healthcare providers to deliver their commissioning plans. Successful implementation of this requirement should lead to a significant reduction in the number of health roles on the Shortage Occupation List by March 2015.
	In moving towards reducing the gap in healthcare workers the Department continues to endorse the World Health Organization code of practice and implements it through the UK code of practice.

Health: Hospices

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the report from the Commission into the Future of Hospice Care Future ambitions for hospice care: our mission and our opportunity; and how they intend to respond to the recommendations which require action by Government departments.

Earl Howe: Departmental and NHS England officials are aware of the report.
	NHS England is responsible for the Government's End of Life Care (EOLC) Strategy. The Strategy makes clear the responsibilities of the National Health Service to ensure adequate support for hospices, including through stronger commissioning and adhering to the principles of the Compact Code of Good Practice.
	NHS England is currently doing a refresh of the EOLC Strategy.

Health: Mitochondrial Disease

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 15 July (WA 86), whether the “mitochondria replacement technique” proposed by the Wellcome Trust Centre for Mitochondrial Research at Newcastle University entails the destruction of embryos with mitochondrial mutations and the synthesis of new entities from their remains; and if so, whether they consider the resulting entities to be the same as those undergoing the treatment.

Earl Howe: Mitochondrial donation techniques involve placing the nucleus from an egg or embryo with unhealthy mitochondria into an egg or embryo free of a mitochondrial disorder. The transfer of the nucleus does not involve modification of the mitochondria.
	The pro-nuclear transfer technique involves the discarding of unhealthy mitochondrial material from an embryo and the transfer of the remaining material to an enucleated donor embryo with healthy mitochondria, to create an embryo which can go on to develop unaffected by mitochondria disease.

Health: Mitochondrial Disease

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 30 October (WA 258), whether the proposed public consultation is intended to engage with the international community; and to what extent the draft regulations will be distributed for consultation both to the national electorate and to members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Earl Howe: The Government intends to follow the Consultation Principles, published by the Cabinet Office on 17 July 2012 and currently available at:
	www.gov.uk/government/publications/consultation-principles-guidance
	The consultation document and the draft regulations will be freely available on the Department's website for anyone who wishes to submit comments. The Government has no plans to directly solicit comments from international bodies.

Health: Musculoskeletal Conditions

Baroness Jenkin of Kennington: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment Public Health England has made of the burden of musculoskeletal conditions in relation to overall disability; how musculoskeletal health is reflected in its workstreams; and what examples of best practice it has identified to share with local authorities.

Earl Howe: The burden of musculoskeletal conditions as a substantial contributor to disabled life years was highlighted in the United Kingdom analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study. This analysis was published in The Lancet, March 2013, which was co-authored by Public Health England (PHE). As an organisation PHE is very clear that actions contributing to the alleviation of that burden must be prioritised, particularly including support for physical activity and smoking cessation.
	PHE has not, at this stage, sought examples of best practice specifically relating to musculoskeletal conditions to share with local authorities. However, sharing of best practice with respect to risk factors for these conditions is routinely incorporated into guidance and advice offered to local services and will inform development of physical activity strategy.

Healthcare: Costs

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 24 October (WA 187), what was the most recent annual amount paid to the government of Ireland for the health costs of United Kingdom pensioners resident there; on what basis that figure was calculated, and on what number of pensioners or percentage thereof; and whether they will place in the Library of the House the relevant letters on which that calculation is based.

Earl Howe: The latest annual figure is for 2012-13 and was £246,828,154* for pensioners. The basis on which the pensioner figure was calculated, including the percentage of pensioners was included in a letter of 11 July 2011 to Ireland's Department of Health and Children. The relevant section of that letter is included as follows:
	Reimbursement arrangements for 2010-2013
	For 2010-2013, we agreed that we would not pursue the use of another triennial survey, which otherwise would have been due. As an alternative arrangement, we have agreed that between 2010 and 2013, UK liability to Ireland (currently 40%) will fall, year on year, by 1.13%. This figure was agreed after both parties noted an average downward trend in UK liability
	for dual pensioners since the start of the bilateral agreement in 1971. As a result, UK liability will be 35.48% by 2013. Applying the same principle, Irish liability will stand at 4.44%. We agreed that such a deal would provide a logical and pragmatic approach; remove the need to enter negotiations about Department for Work and Pensions resource for a triennial survey (along with your equivalent), and see an end to protracted negotiations regarding pensioner numbers and categories of UK liability for those years.
	*Source:
	Resource Accounting and Budgeting exercise. Totals are based on estimates of the costs of European Economic Area healthcare claims made annually for the purposes of provisions made in the Department's accounts in accordance with HM Treasury resource accounting rules.

Healthcare: Support Workers

Lord Willis of Knaresborough: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to promote voluntary registers for health care support workers.
	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made an assessment of which organisations would best be able to support the creation of voluntary registers of health care support workers.
	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their definition of a reliable and effective accreditation scheme for voluntary occupational registers; and whether there are any current examples.
	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what initiatives the Professional Standards Agency has taken to fulfil Strategic Objective 3 in its 2013 Annual Report with regard to health care support workers.

Earl Howe: Since January 2013, the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) has had the ability to accredit voluntary registers of people working in a variety of health and social care occupations. The PSA Accredited Voluntary Registers Scheme was introduced to give employers and commissioners, looking for health and social care practitioners that are not regulated by statute, the benefit of being able to choose people who are on registers that are accredited by the PSA.
	The Government promotes the scheme when responding to requests and correspondence from organisations and individuals concerning regulation. We will continue to promote the scheme in this way and signpost organisations to the PSA website where more information can be obtained.
	To achieve accreditation, organisations must meet the standards laid down by the PSA. Beyond this, the Government has made no assessment of which organisations would best be able to support voluntary registers of health care support workers.
	In order to be accredited, organisations that hold voluntary registers must provide evidence to the PSA that they are well run, and that they require registrants to meet high standards of personal behaviour, technical
	competence and, where relevant, business practice. The current PSA scheme is supported by the Government as a reliable and effective accreditation scheme.
	In line with strategic objective 3 of its 2013 annual report, the PSA has made significant progress with implementing a reliable and effective assured voluntary registration scheme, which will ensure that there are robust standards of conduct and training for those on the accredited registers. It will also give commissioners, providers of care and direct users of care services a further means of assuring themselves about the standards met by individual workers. However, the PSA has not yet received applications from organisations regarding voluntary registers for health care support workers.

Holocaust

Baroness Whitaker: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what aspects of the Holocaust are covered in the National Curriculum; and whether they include the genocide of the Roma people.

Lord Nash: The Holocaust remains a compulsory part of the new national curriculum for history, which will be introduced from September 2014. It is for schools to decide exactly what they teach as part of this.
	The Department funds the Institute of Education to provide continuing professional development for teachers in Holocaust education. This includes coverage of all major groups of victims of the Nazis, including the Roma people.

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 30 October (WA 258), in the light of the definition of “serious disease” in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, as amended, whether the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority considers it as including all terminal diseases but not necessarily restricted to such conditions.

Earl Howe: The Human Fertilisation Act 1990, as amended, uses the phrase “serious mitochondria] disease” but does not define it. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has advised that it considers it would not be appropriate to comment or speculate on how the Authority would consider this issue before regulations on mitochondrial donation treatment have been submitted to Parliament.

Immigration

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what provision is made for those released on bail from detention centres; and if none is made, whether they have plans to do so.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: Provision for those released on bail from immigration detention depends on individual circumstances. Needs are assessed on a case-by-case basis and those that are eligible may be provided with accommodation or financial support, either from the Home Office or the relevant local authority.

Immigration

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps the Home Office is taking to meet its target of reducing immigration by 60 per cent; and what measures have been put in place to protect asylum seekers.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The most recent statistics show that net migration is down by a third since its peak in 2010. Over the last three years we have reformed all major routes of entry to the UK for non-EEA migrants. We have increased the skill level required to come for work, tackled abuse in the student sector and reformed family visas.
	The Government takes its international obligations very seriously and we have a proud history of providing refuge to those in need of protection. Every asylum case is carefully considered on its individual merits and taking into consideration the situation in the country of origin. Where a claim is refused there is a right of appeal to the courts. However, where we and the courts find someone is not in need of protection we expect them to return home voluntarily and if they choose not to leave we will seek to enforce their removal.

Immigration

Lord Ramsbotham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps are being taken to ensure that short-term detainees held in immigration detention centres and prisons are given equivalent access to the provisions of the Detention Centre Rules 2001, which do not apply in those facilities.

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the likely consequences of halting immigration to the United Kingdom; and whether they have any plans to do so.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The Government has not made any such assessment and has no plans to do so. Immigration enriches our culture and strengthens our economy. It helps maintain strong international links, boosts inward investment and fills skill gaps in our
	economy. While the Government has no plans to halt immigration, we intend to protect UK interests by controlling it effectively. We are committed to reducing net migration from the hundreds of thousand to tens of thousands, while continuing to attract the brightest and best and to ensure our more selective immigration system meets our economic needs.

Immigration Removal Centres: Security

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what provisions are in place for regulating and periodically evaluating security arrangements in Immigration Removal Centres; whether there is a complaints procedure to hold those providing security services to account; and, if so, how many formal complaints have been made in respect of the security services at Immigration Removal Centres in each of the last five years.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The regulation of security arrangements in Immigration Removal Centres (IRCs) is through the Detention Centre Rules 2001, the Operating Standards for IRCs, Detention Services Orders relating to security arrangements and the relevant sections of the contracts and service level agreements relating to security.
	Each IRC has a Home Office Immigration Enforcement Manager to monitor ongoing service provision.
	Evaluation of security arrangements is carried out by Home Office Immigration Enforcement on the basis of risk assessment. Independent assessment of the security arrangements in IRCs is provided in the reports of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons and the annual reports of the Independent Monitoring Boards.
	A comprehensive complaints system is in place at all IRCs and detainees also have the provision to raise complaints both anonymously or in person and in-confidence to the Independent Monitoring Boards who can raise complaints on behalf of detainees. Detainees who are not satisfied with the way in which their complaint has been handled may ask for it to be reviewed by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.
	It is not possible to provide the number of complaints involving a Detainee Custody Officer or Manager employed in the security department without the examination of individual records at disproportionate cost.

Immigration: Children

Baroness Lister of Burtersett: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Taylor of Holbeach on 29 August (WA 367) on the immigration detention, deportation and removal of parents, whether information about children's welfare is routinely
	obtained from parents before decisions are made to detain them or continue their detention; which “others” information is routinely obtained from, and whether this includes children's services and those caring for the children outside detention; and whether the Home Office seeks information about the child's welfare, wishes and feelings directly from the affected child.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: Where parents are being detained, deported or removed from the UK, information about the children's welfare is obtained before decisions are made on the family's case. The Home Office has a national network of Family Engagement Managers who work closely with families throughout the family returns process to ensure the safeguarding of children and help guide families through the process, outlining options for return to their country of origin. This includes talking to the children in an age appropriate way, obtaining their views and tailoring the return plans accordingly. An individual and tailored return plan is put together by a Family Engagement Manager for every family removed through the Family Returns Process, which, before it is implemented, requires consideration and support from the Independent Family Returns Panel In considering the options for the return plan, information is obtained from children's services, teachers, GP's and other family members along with any other professional body that has had contact with the child and that the parents have given the Home Office permission to contact. The Home Office use pre-departure accommodation, Cedars, to support ensured returns of families from the UK who have refused to co-operate with other return options, or for whom other return options are not suitable. Barnado's provide welfare and social care facilities at Cedars and work with families during their stay to help them prepare for their return to their country of origin.

Immigration: Detention

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what information and statistics they have gathered concerning the primary causes of detention in a detention centre; and what statistics and information exists on the number of people incorrectly detained.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: Immigration Act powers of detention are used in the following circumstances: initially, whilst a person's identity and basis of claim is being established; where there are reasonable grounds for believing that a person will not comply with the conditions attached to temporary admission or release; as part of a fast-track asylum process; or to effect removal from the UK.
	The Home Office publishes data on the number of people entering immigration detention each year, which can be found at the link below. This data is not,
	however, broken down by reasons for detention. Although the Home Office holds management information on reasons for detention in individual cases, this data is not held centrally and could be collated only by examination of individual records at disproportionate cost.
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tables-for-immigration-statistics-april-to-june-2013
	Statistics on the number of people whose detention under Immigration Act powers has been found by the Courts to be unlawful are not held centrally.

Immigration: Detention

Lord Ramsbotham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether victims of torture, or those whose health may be affected by detention, have recourse to an equivalent mechanism to Rule 35 of the Detention Centre Rules 2001 when held in a prison or short-term holding facility.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: There are no plans to extend the provisions of the Detention Centre Rules 2001 to cover short-term holding facilities or prisons. Separate rules are under development for short-term holding facilities and consideration will be given to the inclusion in those rules of provisions equivalent or similar to those in the Detention Centre Rules.
	Detainees held in short-term holding facilities will be in such facilities only for very short periods of time, often just a matter of hours. In many cases, the persons concerned will be transferred to an immigration removal centre, where they would be covered by the Detention Centre Rules, including Rule 35.
	Immigration detainees held in prisons are covered by Rule 21 of the Prison Rules 1999, which requires prison medical officers or practitioners to report on the case of any prisoner whose health is likely to be injuriously affected by continued imprisonment, or the conditions of imprisonment, and to pay special attention to the mental condition of any prisoner whose condition appears to require it. This equates to the requirements of Rules 35(1) and (5) of the Detention Centre Rules.

Inflation

Lord Ezra: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the reasons for the differences in the rate of inflation between the United Kingdom and the Eurozone and United States.

Lord Deighton: Annual CPI inflation in the UK was 2.2 per cent in October 2013, compared to 0.7 per cent in the euro area. It was 1.2 per cent in the United States in September. In the UK food inflation is higher than in both the euro area and the US and ongoing price rises in energy contrast with falling prices in the euro area and the US.

Internet: Harassment

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to combat online harassment.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The Coalition Government takes online harassment very seriously. Robust legislation is in place to deal with internet trolls, cyber-stalking, and perpetrators of grossly offensive, obscene or menacing behaviour.
	In July, the Crown Prosecution Service published guidelines for prosecutors on the approach they should take in cases involving communications sent via social media. The College of Policing also wrote to all Chief Officers in July 2013 with advice on tackling online abuse.

Legal Services: Pro Bono Work

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what efforts they are making to facilitate pro bono work in the legal profession.

Lord Wallace of Tankerness: The Attorney General continues to chair the Domestic and International Pro Bono Co-ordinating Committees which both have an excellent record at encouraging lawyers to carry out pro bono work both in the UK and overseas. In the last year, the Law Officers have undertaken various visits and speaking engagements, as well as taking part in events during National Pro Bono Week (w/c 4th November 2013)—to highlight the importance of pro bono, as well as encouraging the profession to continue its engagement with pro bono initiatives. During National Pro Bono Week, the Law Officers attended The National Pro Bono Centre Question Time panel debate, visited the Personal Support Unit in the Royal Courts of Justice, visited and spoke at the University of Law and at BPP Law School. The Attorney General was also a Panel member at the Launch of the LawWorks Pro Bono Survey 2013 and keynote speaker at the 115th anniversary of Toynbee Hall’s Free Legal Advice Centre.
	Most recently the Attorney General’s International Pro Bono Committee has been encouraging its members and the profession to develop relationships with members of the inter-departmental Justice Assistance Network (JAN), and HMG more generally, with a view to developing opportunities for collaborative working and better coordination regarding the delivery of Rule of Law programmes. The Department for International Development (DfID) is currently strengthening its partnership with the pro bono community; DfID is working with the sector to understand how it can most effectively support pro bono actors to deliver expert technical assistance to developing country partner Governments which strengthens the rule of law and supports poverty reduction.
	The Law Officers also welcome the work of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Pro Bono which has played an active role in this year's National Pro Bono Week and pro bono work more generally.

NHS National Cancer Action Team

Lord Ouseley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether an equality impact assessment was carried out prior to the disbanding of the NHS National Cancer Action Team; and what assessment they have made of the implications for the future of the Black and Minority Ethnic Cancer Alliance, previously supported by the Action Team.

Earl Howe: The functions of the National Cancer Action Team have been absorbed by the improvement body NHS Improving Quality, and so no equality impact assessment was carried out.
	The National Cancer Equality Initiative (NCEI) is now the responsibility of NHS England and is working to reduce inequalities in cancer care.
	The NCEI is co-chaired by the National Clinical Director for cancer, and the inequalities lead for the Clinical Commissioning Group alliance. The NCEI secretariat is provided by Macmillan Cancer Support.
	The NCEI was set up to bring together key stakeholders from groups including healthcare professionals, the voluntary sector, academics, and equality champions to develop research proposals on cancer inequalities, to test interventions, and to advise on the development of wider policy.
	The Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Cancer Voice and the BME Cancer Alliance are supported by the Black Health Initiative, based in Leeds. The chief executive of the Black Health Initiative, and the co-chair of the BME Cancer Alliance both now sit as members of NCEI.

NHS: Accident and Emergency Services

The Countess of Mar: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the average cost of an accident and emergency attendance by a patient whose condition could have been dealt with by a general practitioner.

Earl Howe: The information requested is not available because the cost of an accident and emergency attendance by a patient whose condition could have been dealt with by a general practitioner is not reported separately to the Department.

NHS: Competition

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of recent comments by Sir David Nicholson, Chief Executive of NHS England, about the impact of competition in the National Health Service; and whether they have any plans to amend Part 3 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 in the light of experience since competition was introduced.

Earl Howe: The Government is committed to the principle that competition in the health service must be a means to improving services for patients and not an end in itself.
	The Health and Social Care Act 2012 did not introduce competition to the National Health Service. The Act continues the sector specific approach to managed competition in the NHS, overseen by a regulator, Monitor, whose primary duty is to protect and promote the interests of patients.
	There are no plans to amend part 3 of the Act or the NHS Procurement, Patient Choice and Competition regulations, which continue the procurement requirements put in place by the previous administration.
	Monitor and NHS England will be issuing further guidance to commissioners to support them in taking decisions about the use of competition locally in the best interests of their patients.

NHS: Expenditure

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much capital expenditure has been incurred at Lewisham Hospital in the years 2011-12, 2012-13, and 2013-14 to date.

Earl Howe: The information is not available in the format requested. The Department collects financial information from NHS Trusts, but this information does not distinguish between individual hospitals within a trust.
	From 1st October 2013, Lewisham Hospital became part of the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust. This trust is responsible for providing NHS services at Lewisham Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Greenwich, 11 other health centres in Lewisham and some services at St Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup.
	Prior to this, in August 2010 Lewisham Healthcare NHS Trust was formed, which comprised Lewisham Hospital and community services.
	The figures in the following table represent capital expenditure for Lewisham Healthcare NHS Trust for 2011-12 and 2012-13 and for Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust for month six of 2013-14. The NHS Trust Development Authority have provided the figure for 2013-14.
	
		
			 Year Charge Against the Capital Resource Limit (£000s) 
			 2011-12 4,464 
			 2012-13 5,404 
			 2013-14 (month 6 year to date) 2,203

NHS: General Practitioners

The Countess of Mar: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether Clinical Commissioning Groups are able to sanction general practitioners who fail to provide adequate same-day appointments.

Earl Howe: General practitioners (GPs) are independent contractors who hold contracts with NHS England. Under the terms of their contracts, GPs are required to provide “immediately necessary treatment” for patients when this is, in their clinical judgement, required.
	Failure to provide such treatment could lead to GPs being in breach of their contract. In such circumstances, NHS England could choose to withhold remuneration or terminate the contract.

Northern Ireland Parades Commission

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Randerson on 8 November (WA 85-6) concerning appointments to the Northern Ireland Parades Commission, who made the assessment that the process was “fair and open”.

Baroness Randerson: As previously stated in the answer given to the Noble Lord on 8 November, Official Report, Columns WA85 & WA86, appointments to the Parades Commission for Northern Ireland are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The Commissioner has appointed Dame Anne Pringle as Public Appointments Assessor to chair the selection panel. Dame Anne will report on the outcome of the selection process and confirm that the appointments process was conducted in accordance with the Code of Practice. An essential requirement of the Code is that Departments must deliver appointments processes that meet the principles of merit, fairness and openness.

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development: Better Life Index

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they intend to improve the United Kingdom’s rankings in education, skills and income equality on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Better Life Index.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The OECD’s (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s) Better Life Index underlines the urgent need for the Government’s radical reforms to raise standards in education, improve young people’s skills and support social mobility. The rigorous new national curriculum focuses on the basics so that children from a young age have a strong foundation on which to build. There is much greater challenge in the new maths curriculum from primary school through to age 16 so that standards are raised across the board and for all children. The new English curriculum has a greater focus on grammar, spelling and punctuation.
	We are reforming A levels and GCSEs so that they match the best in the world and give our students the skills they need to progress to further education, training or employment. All young people without C grades at GCSE must now study English and maths beyond 16, and our new Tech Bacc combines high-quality occupational qualifications with a rigorous maths core. Our new TechBacc will be rigorous and challenging, giving vocational education the high status it deserves—putting it on a par with A-level study and recognising excellence.
	We have set an ambition that, by 2020, the great majority of 16-19 year-olds should be studying mathematics, and we are supporting the creation of new mathematics qualifications for those with at least a grade C at GCSER, but who do not choose to proceed to mathematics A level or AS level.

Parliaments: English Parliament

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Statement by Baroness Randerson on 4 November regarding proposed new powers for Wales (WS 7), whether they have plans to legislate for an English parliament with powers equivalent to those of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; and, if not, why not.

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: The Government has no plans to set up an English parliament. Following a commitment in the Programme for Government, the Government established a Commission to consider the consequences of devolution for the House of Commons. The Commission considered the case for establishing an English parliament but did not include this in its menu of options for dealing with legislation which affects only England.

Passports

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many members of the National Congress Party-led government of Sudan hold United Kingdom passports.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: Her Majesty's Passport Office does not collate information in the format requested.

Personal Independence Payment

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the age limit for the receipt of Personal Independence Payments; why there is a limit; whether they have ensured that all sections of the civil service have been trained on the topic; and, if so, how.

Lord Freud: Like disability living allowance (DLA), personal independence payment (PIP) operates an upper age limit of 65 or pension age, whichever is the later, for an initial claim. However, existing DLA claimants who were aged 16 to 64 on 8 April 2013 will be invited to claim PIP regardless of their age at the point they're invited and will be able to access the mobility component without restriction at that point.
	The age limit is designed to provide extra help for those disabled relatively early in life who have had limited opportunities to earn and save. Once awarded, PIP may continue in payment after the age of 65 if the entitlement conditions continue to be satisfied.
	Learning and development has been undertaken with all staff who work on delivering PIP and guidance has been put in place for their use. Information about PIP is also available on the Department's Intranet site for all staff to access.
	In developing PIP, the Department worked closely with all Government Departments and the devolved administrations to ensure they were aware of, and understood, PIP and how it may impact on their functions, for example entitlement and delivery of "passported" benefits. Further information, available to all sections of the civil service and the public generally is available on www.gov.uk.

Police: Operation Alice

Lord Hoyle: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been the cost to date of Operation Alice concerning the police investigation into the incident involving Andrew Mitchell MP and a police officer in Downing Street on 19 September 2012.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The estimated cost to the Metropolitan Police Service of Operation Alice as at 7 November 2013 is £248,200.45.

Police: Wales

Lord Wigley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many (1) total force full-time equivalent police staff, and (2) full-time equivalent operational frontline police officers, there are in each of the four police force areas of Wales; and how that compares to the corresponding figures in 2010.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The table provided contains data on the number of (1) full-time equivalent police staff, and (2) full-time equivalent operational frontline police officers, in each Welsh police force as at 31 March 2010 and 31 March 2013 and the change between the periods.
	Number of full-time equivalent1 police staff2 in Wales, by police force area, as at 31 March 2010 and 31 March 20133,4
	
		
			  Mar-10 Mar-13 Change % Change 
			 Dyfed-Powys 692 576 116 16.8% 
			 Gwent 810 643 167 20.6% 
			 North Wales 876 839 37 4.2% 
			 South Wales 1,810 1,621 189 10.5% 
			 Total 4,188 3,679 509 12.2% 
		
	
	1. Figures have been presented to the nearest whole number.
	2. These figures exclude police community support officers, traffic wardens and designated officers.
	3. These figures are published within the Police Workforce, England and Wales statistical publications (previously titled Police Service Strength, England and Wales), and can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-workforce-england-and-wales
	4. Source: Home Office, using data received from police forces via the Annual Data Requirement.
	
		
			 Number of full-time equivalent1 operational frontline police officers in Wales, by police force area, as at 31 March 2010 and 31 March 20132 
			  Mar-10 Mar-13 Change % Change 
			 Dyfed-Powys 1,086 1,030 -57 -5.2% 
			 Gwent 1,336 1,267 -68 -5.1% 
			 North Wales 1,458 1,387 -71 -4.9% 
			 South Wales 2,735 2,373 -363 -13.3% 
			 Total 6,615 6,056 -559 -8.4% 
		
	
	1. Figures have been presented to the nearest whole number.
	2. Source: HMIC, Valuing the police data: http://www.hmic.gov.uk/data/valuing-the-police-data/

Prostitution

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures they are taking to protect prostitutes from abuse and violence.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The Coalition Government is committed to tackling the harm and exploitation associated with prostitution. The cross-Government Action Plan to end Violence Against Women and Girls sets out our commitment to ensure that those involved in prostitution are protected from violence, free from exploitation and, where appropriate, given help to leave.
	In October 2011 the Home Office published a review of effective practice in terms of policing, exiting, minimising harm and general multi-agency working. This document is available on the GOV.UK website.
	The Home Office has also funded the UK Network of Sex Work Projects to pilot a national scheme to help protect sex workers from violent and abusive clients. The 12 month pilot brought together a number of locally run ‘Ugly Mugs’ projects, which encourage sex workers to report incidents of violence and abuse. The UK Network of Sex Work Projects is currently taking Ugly Mugs forward with local areas.

Royal Mail

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Viscount Younger of Leckie on 28 October (WA 220-1), what factors have been used to determine whether the investment banks managing the sale of the Government’s holding in Royal Mail will receive the potential discretionary performance fee; and what percentage of the maximum £4.2 million has or will be paid.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: The decision on the discretionary element of the underwriters’ fees will take into consideration a number of factors set out in the agreement with the underwriters. These include the relevant underwriters’ contribution to the efficient preparation of the IPO (Initial Public Offering) and its overall success. We will also look at their success in generating demand for the IPO alongside the quality and success of roadshow meetings and resulting investor feedback. In addition, we will consider the final price achieved and the aftermarket performance of the shares.
	No decision has been made on how much of the discretionary fee will be paid.

Schools: New Schools

Lord Storey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many (1) academies, (2) free schools, (3) community schools, (4) community special schools, (5) foundation (including trust) schools, (6) foundation special
	(including trust) schools, (7) voluntary-aided schools, (8) voluntary-controlled schools, (9) faith schools, (10) grammar schools, (11) pupil referral units, (12) sixth-form colleges, (13) university technical colleges, (14) studio schools, (15) independent schools, (16) British schools overseas, and (17) any other
	type of school, opened in each year since 2009, and to date in 2013.

Lord Nash: The information requested is shown in the table below:
	
		
			 Number of schools opened each academic year from 2009/10 to 2013/14 
			 Coverage: England (including overseas schools registered on Edubase) 
			   Openings by academic year (September to August) 
			  Number of schools opened since 2009/10 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 (to date) 
			 Type of establishment   
			 Academies 1 3,313 70 898 923 1,062 360 
			 British schools overseas 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Community schools 114 40 31 23 17 3 
			 Community special schools 19 13 1 2 2 1 
			 Foundation schools 34 7 8 12 6 1 
			 Foundation special schools 2 0 0 0 2 0 
			 Free schools 2 174 0 0 24 57 93 
			 Local Authority Nursery schools 2 0 0 2 0 0 
			 Offshore schools 1 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Other independent schools 215 47 43 67 49 9 
			 Other independent special schools 159 41 38 38 40 2 
			 Pupil referral units 70 25 19 21 4 1 
			 Service Children’s Education 1 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Sixth form centres 6 2 3 1 0 0 
			 Studio schools 3 24 0 1 1 9 13 
			 University technical colleges 4 17 0 1 1 3 12 
			 Voluntary aided schools 62 9 15 18 12 8 
			 Voluntary controlled schools 20 8 7 1 4 0 
			 Characteristic of schools   
			 Faith schools 5 799 26 152 247 275 99 
			 Selective schools 6 29 6 3 10 10 0 
		
	
	Data as at 04/11/2013, source: Edubase other than where listed.
	1. Includes all academy types, sources: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/academies-annual-report-academic-year-2011-to-2012 and http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/academies/b00208569/open-academies
	2. Includes all free school types, source: http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/freeschools/b00222175/open
	3. Figures do not include studio schools within schools/academies as they are not separate institutions in their own right
	4. Source: http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/technical/a00198954/utcs
	5. A faith school is defined here as a school with a declared and not missing religious character on Edubase as at 04/11/2013
	6. No additional state-funded selective schools have opened in this period; the schools listed in this row are all independent

Schools: Population Changes

Lord Storey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what population change, broken down by region, took place in (1) nursery schools, (2) primary schools, (3) secondary schools, (4) pupil referral units, (5) non-maintained school, (6) special schools, and (7) all schools, in each of the last five years, and to date in 2013.

Lord Nash: The information requested has been provided in the table provided below1.
	1
	School Censuses; January 2009–January 2013.
	
		
			 ALL SCHOOLS: 
			 NUMBER (HEADCOUNT) OF PUPILS BY TYPE OF SCHOOL (1) 
			 January 2009 to January 2013 
			 By region in England 
			   Total (7) Change between (7) 
			   2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2009 and 2010 2010 and 2011 2011 and 2012 2012 and 2013 2009 and 2013 
			 ENGLAND All Schools 8,071,000 8,064,300 8,123,865 8,178,200 8,249,810 -6,700 59,565 54,335 71,610 178,810 
			  Nursery 37,320 37,610 38,920 39,470 38,880 290 1,310 550 -590 1,560 
			  State-funded primary (2)(3) 4,074,890 4,093,710 4,137,755 4,217,000 4,309,580 18,820 44,045 79,245 92,580 234,690 
			  State-funded secondary (2)(4) 3,271,090 3,252,140 3,262,635 3,234,875 3,210,120 -18,950 10,495 -27,760 -24,755 -60,970 
			  State-funded special schools (5) 85,450 86,260 89,860 91,590 94,350 810 3,600 1,730 2,760 8,900 
			  Non-maintained special schools 4,630 4,500 4,415 4,325 4,245 -130 -85 -90 -80 -385 
			  Pupil Referral Units (6) 15,230 13,240 14,050 13,495 12,950 -1,990 810 -555 -545 -2,280 
			  Independent 582,400 576,850 576,230 577,445 579,680 -5,550 -620 1,215 2,235 -2,720 
			 NORTH EAST All Schools 396,630 393,780 393,015 391,315 390,930 -2,850 -765 -1,700 -385 -5,700 
			  Nursery 3,010 3,020 3,090 3,105 3,065 10 70 15 -40 55 
			  State-funded primary (2)(3) 203,810 202,870 204,110 206,255 209,195 -940 1,240 2,145 2,940 5,385 
			  State-funded secondary (2)(4) 170,720 169,220 166,850 163,205 160,145 -1,500 -2,370 -3,645 -3,060 -10,575 
			  State-funded special schools (5) 5,470 5,460 5,885 6,010 6,260 -10 425 125 250 790 
			  Non-maintained special schools 270 270 250 255 270 0 -20 5 15 0 
			  Pupil Referral Units (6) 670 580 630 535 545 -90 50 -95 10 -125 
			  Independent 12,680 12,380 12,200 11,950 11,450 -300 -180 -250 -500 -1,230 
			 NORTH WEST All Schools 1,088,320 1,082,200 1,082,200 1,084,580 1,088,720 -6,120 0 2,380 4,140 400 
			  Nursery 6,330 6,050 6,000 6,030 5,955 -280 -50 30 -75 -375 
			  State-funded primary (2)(3) 574,500 575,700 579,005 587,460 597,840 1,200 3,305 8,455 10,380 23,340 
			  State-funded secondary (2)(4) 438,870 433,980 430,995 426,630 420,860 -4,890 -2,985 -4,365 -5,770 -18,010 
			  State-funded special schools (5) 12,650 12,610 13,020 13,135 13,365 -40 410 115 230 715 
			  Non-maintained special schools 740 730 665 620 640 -10 -65 -45 20 -100 
			  Pupil Referral Units (6) 2,270 2,040 1,970 1,930 1,945 -230 -70 -40 15 -325 
			  Independent 52,970 51,090 50,545 48,775 48,115 -1,880 -545 -1,770 -660 -4,855 
			 YORKSHIRE AND THE HUMBER All Schools 814,090 811,890 815,230 818,060 822,860 -2,200 3,340 2,830 4,800 8,770 
			  Nursery 3,160 3,090 3,210 3,235 3,085 -70 120 25 -150 -75 
		
	
	
		
			  State-funded primary (2)(3) 433,590 435,500 439,400 447,525 457,455 1,910 3,900 8,125 9,930 23,865 
			  State-funded secondary (2)(4) 334,760 331,180 330,170 325,635 320,620 -3,580 -1,010 -4,535 -5,015 -14,140 
			  State-funded special schools (5) 7,390 7,310 7,385 7,520 7,765 -80 75 135 245 375 
			  Non-maintained special schools 250 270 280 275 275 20 10 -5 0 25 
			  Pupil Referral Units (6) 1,140 1,020 1,370 1,165 1,150 -120 350 -205 -15 10 
			  Independent 33,800 33,520 33,415 32,705 32,510 -280 -105 -710 -195 -1,290 
			 EAST MIDLANDS All Schools 688,920 685,800 687,955 689,205 693,085 -3,120 2,155 1,250 3,880 4,165 
			  Nursery 2,790 2,790 2,910 3,020 2,880 0 120 110 -140 90 
			  State-funded primary (2)(3) 351,160 349,890 351,575 356,685 364,295 -1,270 1,685 5,110 7,610 13,135 
			  State-funded secondary (2)(4) 294,400 292,560 292,830 288,825 285,480 -1,840 270 -4,005 -3,345 -8,920 
			  State-funded special schools (5) 6,180 6,400 6,825 7,040 7,210 220 425 215 170 1,030 
			  Non-maintained special schools 300 290 300 290 305 -10 10 -10 15 5 
			  Pupil Referral Units (6) 1,390 1,170 1,215 1,115 1,090 -220 45 -100 -25 -300 
			  Independent 32,720 32,710 32,300 32,230 31,825 -10 -410 -70 -405 -895 
			 WEST MIDLANDS All Schools 888,410 883,980 889,755 894,250 900,950 -4,430 5,775 4,495 6,700 12,540 
			  Nursery 4,810 4,820 5,005 5,300 5,055 10 185 295 -245 245 
			  State-funded primary (2)(3) 459,760 461,070 464,520 471,430 480,950 1,310 3,450 6,910 9,520 21,190 
			  State-funded secondary (2)(4) 365,680 360,470 361,905 359,170 356,285 -5,210 1,435 -2,735 -2,885 -9,395 
			  State-funded special schools (5) 12,000 12,190 12,660 13,040 13,395 190 470 380 355 1,395 
			  Non-maintained special schools 100 100 95 100 110 0 -5 5 10 10 
			  Pupil Referral Units (6) 1,650 1,460 1,550 1,470 1,240 -190 90 -80 -230 -410 
			  Independent 44,410 43,870 44,020 43,745 43,915 -540 150 -275 170 -495 
			 EAST OF ENGLAND All Schools 899,540 898,860 906,050 912,255 921,180 -680 7,190 6,205 8,925 21,640 
			  Nursery 3,960 4,200 4,290 4,430 4,465 240 90 140 35 505 
			  State-funded primary (2)(3) 429,860 431,910 438,045 449,980 461,380 2,050 6,135 11,935 11,400 31,520 
			  State-funded secondary (2)(4) 389,280 386,960 387,165 381,840 378,340 -2,320 205 -5,325 -3,500 -10,940 
		
	
	
		
			  State-funded special schools (5) 8,670 8,780 8,915 9,140 9,510 110 135 225 370 840 
			  Non-maintained special schools 160 160 150 150 140 0 -10 0 -10 -20 
			  Pupil Referral Units (6) 1,380 1,100 1,235 1,295 1,340 -280 135 60 45 -40 
			  Independent 66,230 65,750 66,245 65,415 66,000 -480 495 -830 585 -230 
			 LONDON All Schools 1,233,510 1,251,130 1,276,410 1,304,100 1,331,275 17,620 25,280 27,690 27,175 97,765 
			  Nursery 7,300 7,300 8,015 7,900 7,990 0 715 -115 90 690 
			  State-funded primary (2)(3) 633,180 644,630 657,775 677,260 696,105 11,450 13,145 19,485 18,845 62,925 
			  State-funded secondary (2)(4) 446,510 451,050 460,785 464,250 469,355 4,540 9,735 3,465 5,105 22,845 
			  State-funded special schools (5) 11,460 11,560 12,335 12,480 13,010 100 775 145 530 1,550 
			  Non-maintained special schools 290 290 300 300 310 0 10 0 10 20 
			  Pupil Referral Units (6) 3,400 3,100 3,060 3,200 3,200 -300 -40 140 0 -200 
			  Independent 131,370 133,200 134,145 138,710 141,300 1,830 945 4,565 2,590 9,930 
			 SOUTH EAST All Schools 1,301,520 1,300,700 1,313,560 1,322,470 1,336,155 -820 12,860 8,910 13,685 34,635 
			  Nursery 4,250 4,450 4,550 4,535 4,445 200 100 -15 -90 195 
			  State-funded primary (2)(3) 622,050 625,470 634,360 646,550 661,995 3,420 8,890 12,190 15,445 39,945 
			  State-funded secondary (2)(4) 507,570 504,930 508,925 504,805 501,790 -2,640 3,995 -4,120 -3,015 -5,780 
			  State-funded special schools (5) 14,690 14,960 15,610 15,960 16,365 270 650 350 405 1,675 
			  Non-maintained special schools 2,080 1,970 1,880 1,870 1,795 -110 -90 -10 -75 -285 
			  Pupil Referral Units (6) 1,910 1,780 1,700 1,630 1,510 -130 -80 -70 -120 -400 
			  Independent 148,970 147,140 146,530 147,125 148,250 -1,830 -610 595 1,125 -720 
			 SOUTH WEST All Schools 760,060 755,980 759,690 761,960 764,655 -4,080 3,710 2,270 2,695 4,595 
			  Nursery 1,710 1,900 1,855 1,910 1,940 190 -45 55 30 230 
			  State-funded primary (2)(3) 366,980 366,680 368,970 373,860 380,370 -300 2,290 4,890 6,510 13,390 
			  State-funded secondary (2)(4) 323,310 321,800 323,005 320,515 317,245 -1,510 1,205 -2,490 -3,270 -6,065 
			  State-funded special schools (5) 6,940 6,990 7,225 7,265 7,465 50 235 40 200 525 
			  Non-maintained special schools 440 430 485 470 400 -10 55 -15 -70 -40 
		
	
	
		
			  Pupil Referral Units (6) 1,420 990 1,325 1,155 925 -430 335 -170 -230 -495 
			  Independent 59,260 57,190 56,825 56,790 56,310 -2,070 -365 -35 -480 -2,950 
		
	
	1. Includes pupils who are sole or dual main registrations. In pupil referral units also includes pupils registered with other providers and further education colleges.
	2. Includes middle schools as deemed.
	3. Includes all primary academies, including free schools.
	4. Includes city technology colleges and all secondary academies, including free schools, university technical colleges and studio schools.
	5. Includes general hospital schools and special academies.
	6. Includes academy and free school alternative provision. From 2010 onwards data was collected at pupil level and dual subsiduary registrations could be removed.
	7. Pupil numbers have been rounded to the nearest 5 therefore totals may not appear to equal the sum of the component parts.

Smoking

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much they spend annually on deterring young people from smoking.

Earl Howe: A specific answer to this question is not held centrally.
	A range of action is being taken by the Government to reduce the number of young people starting to smoke. We need to influence the adult world in which children grow up to stop the perpetuation of smoking from one generation to the next. The Tobacco Control Plan includes encouragement for communities across England to reshape social norms, so that tobacco becomes less desirable, less acceptable and less accessible. A copy of the plan has already been placed in the Library.
	The Government has stopped tobacco sales from vending machines, once an easily accessible and often unsupervised source of tobacco for children. Eye-catching displays of cigarettes, which can promote smoking by young people, have been covered in supermarkets and other large stores since April 2012 and will be covered in small shops in April 2015. A number of national marketing campaigns have been run to support smokers to quit.
	In 2012-13 the Department adopted a holistic approach for its Youth Marketing Programme, communicating to young people about a range of issues rather than specific topics in turn. A number of risky behaviours, including smoking, were identified which caused a significant impact on the development of young people and had serious implications for their future health and wellbeing. The Programme sought to prevent the uptake of smoking and drug use and delay the age of first alcoholic drink and sexual experience by equipping young people with the skills and resilience required to meet these challenges.
	This holistic approach and the campaign's focus on developing decision-making skills means that it is impossible to determine how much has been spent specifically on preventing young people from smoking in 2012-13. In total £1.66 million was spent in 2012-13; this figure includes all media, production, public relations, website development and the cost of evaluation. This programme is now led by Public Health England.
	With responsibility for public health now devolved to local level, local authorities will also be taking their own action to reduce the amount of smoking by young people. We continue to encourage local authorities to also take a comprehensive approach to reducing rates of smoking.

Smoking

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty’s Government (1) what proportion of under 16 year-olds, and (2) what proportion of 16-18 year-olds, were recorded as smokers (a) in the latest available year for which figures are available, and (b) in each of the previous four decades.

Earl Howe: Information is not available in the format requested.
	Information on smoking among children (11-15) in England is available for 1982-2012. Information is also available for children (8-15) in England for 1997-2011. These data are obtained via different sources, detailed as follows:
	Information on adult smoking (16-19) in England is available for 1948, and 1980 to 2011. Information is also available for adults (16 and over) in England for 1993 to 2011.
	Table 2.1a of the Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England in 2012 provides information on pupils’ (aged 11-15) smoking behaviour (including “regular smoker” and “ever smoked”), by sex for England: 1982-2000. Table 2.1b shows the same information for the period 2001-2012.
	Table 5 of the Health Survey for England—2011: Children trend tables provides information on Children aged (8-15) self-reported cigarette smoking status, by survey year, age and sex in England, 1997-2011. Note, this shows data for those who have ‘ever smoked'.
	Information on Prevalence of cigarette smoking among adults, by age and gender, 1948, and 1980 to 2011 is contained within Table 2.1 of the Statistics on Smoking—England, 2013: Additional tables. The source of this information is the General Lifestyle Survey 2011. The Office for National Statistics.
	Table 7 of the Health Survey for England—2011: Adult trend tables provides information on Adults aged 16 and over self-reported cigarette smoking status, by survey year and sex in England.
	These tables are available at the following links:
	Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England in 2012:
	http://www.hscic.gov.uk/searchcatalogue?productid=12096&q=title%3a%22Smoking %2c+Drinking+and+Drug+Use+Among+Young+People +in+England%22&sort=Relevance&size=10&page=l#top
	Statistics on Smoking - England, 2013:
	http://www.hscic.gov.uk/searchcatalogue?productid=12212&q=title%3a%22Statistics +on+Smoking%22&sort=Relevance&size=10&page=1 #top
	Health Survey for England—2011, Trend tables.
	http://www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PUB09302
	Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England in 2012, Statistics on Smoking—England, 2013 and Health Survey for England—2011, Trend tables have been placed in the Library.

Smoking

Viscount Ridley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has spent on economic modelling of the price impact of medicinal regulation on consumption of e-cigarettes and tobacco products.
	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what forecast the Department of Health has made of the percentage change in (1) the average price, and (2) the level of consumption, of e-cigarettes, as a result of the introduction of medicinal regulation; and how they have derived those figures.
	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made any estimate of the cost of building a manufacturing plant for e-cigarettes that is compliant with the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency's definition of good manufacturing practice; and, if so, what is that estimate.

Earl Howe: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) published on its website an impact assessment (IA) on the regulation of nicotine containing products (NCPs), including electronic cigarettes, on 12 June 2013 which provided estimates of the costs associated with medicinal regulation of NCPs. A copy has been placed in the Library and is available at:
	www.mhra.gov.uk/NCPs.
	The IA was prepared by the MHRA and the cost of its production has not been calculated.
	The IA does not estimate the cost of achieving Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). Manufacturing in this sector is almost exclusively conducted outside the European Union and the IA makes the assumption that in the first instance, the foreign manufacturers would bear the costs of achieving GMP. The IA also makes the assumption that any production that might be established within the EU in the future would bear similar costs of achieving relevant manufacturing standards regardless of whether the unlicensed NCPs come into the scope of medicines regulations or not.
	The IA makes the assumption that it is likely that manufacturers, EU marketing authorisation holders, and all other participants in the supply chain would seek to pass their incremental costs onto their buyers, and ultimately to consumers. The extent to which United Kingdom consumers would bear the incremental costs is unclear. Pricing of NCPs seems to be constrained at the upper bound by the pricing of tobacco products. The IA suggests that NCP consumers would be unlikely to suffer from substantial price increases if these products were regulated as medicines.
	The intention of regulating NCPs under the medicines framework is to ensure that products which meet appropriate standards of safety, quality and efficacy are available to support reducing the harms of smoking to smokers and those around them. The value of the health gains associated with a single successful quit attempt is very substantial — the Department estimates it to be £74,000. The orders of magnitude of estimated compliance costs suggests that a policy of licensing e-cigarettes would have to create very few additional successful quit attempts for the benefits to justify its costs. It is estimated that implementing policies to reduce smoking prevalence by 1% per year for 10 years in the UK would prevent over 57,000 deaths in that period.

St Helena: Airport

Lord Ashcroft: To ask Her Majesty’s Government on what date the Air Access solution for St Helena will be announced.

Baroness Northover: No such date has yet been set.

St Helena: Airport

Lord Ashcroft: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether a direct link to London will be specified within the Air Access solution for St Helena.

Baroness Northover: Work is underway to evaluate all route options for air service provision for St Helena. This work will include a review of the commercial and technical viability of flights to London.

Syria

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to consider providing admission, above the United Kingdom annual quota, to refugees from Syria.
	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the United Kingdom will join the scheme administered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for the resettlement of Syrian refugees.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The Government shares the deep concerns regarding the continuing humanitarian crisis in Syria. However, the Government has no current plans to resettle Syrian refugees either as part of, or in addition to, its annual resettlement quota. We continue to believe that the priority should be to provide humanitarian assistance to displaced people in partnership with neighbouring countries and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. The UK has now increased its pledge for the Syrian relief effort to £500 million. This represents the UK’s largest ever response to a humanitarian crisis.

Syria

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the light of the funding they are providing for humanitarian assistance in Syria and other countries in the Middle East, they have taken steps to encourage rebel groups in Syria to attend the Geneva II conference.

Baroness Warsi: The UK has worked hard to encourage the Syrian Opposition to attend the Geneva II conference. On 22 October the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) hosted a meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the 11 countries of the Core Group of the Friends of Syria, as well as the President and senior leadership of the Syrian National Coalition. The meeting gave united support to the UN-led Geneva II process, which should establish a transitional governing body with full executive powers, formed by mutual consent.
	On 10 November the members of the National Coalition agreed by consensus at a General Assembly to attend the Geneva II talks. In his statement to Parliament on 11 November, the Foreign Secretary strongly welcomed the National Coalition’s agreement to attend the conference and its call for improved humanitarian access. We continue to push for a date for a peace conference to be agreed, and UN and Arab League Envoy Lakhdar Brahimi is trying to convene a conference before the end of the year.

Syria

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to ensure that humanitarian supplies reach areas held by insurgents in Syria.

Baroness Northover: At the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, the UK called for action to implement the UN’s proposals for unfettered humanitarian access inside Syria. This resulted in a Presidential Statement on the humanitarian situation in Syria which called for a humanitarian ceasefire as well as unhindered humanitarian access, lifting bureaucratic obstacles, granting visas/permits, assisting cross-border delivery and demilitarising schools and medical centres. This must now be implemented and a UN High Level Group led by Baroness Amos is being established to oversee this.

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership

Lord Beecham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to seek approval in Parliament for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership; and if so, how.

Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint: If, as is expected, the final agreement of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership is mixed (i.e. contains areas of both EU and Member State competence), then each member state will be party to the agreement and therefore ratify the agreement according to their own domestic processes. Prior to provisional application of the agreement it must be approved by the European Parliament. Prior to full application all twenty-eight member states must ratify the agreement. As part of the UK ratification process the agreement will be discussed in the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments and the Lords Committee on Secondary Legislation, before being debated in both Houses.

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership

Lord Beecham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact on the United Kingdom of the provisions of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership relating to investor-state dispute resolution.

Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has commissioned academic research into the impact of investor-state dispute settlement within the context of wider investment protection treaties. This research is intended to inform the UK position with regard to the upcoming investment treaties being negotiated by the EU.
	The research commissioned included a framework to analyse the costs and benefits of investment protection treaties as a whole and use of the framework to assess the inclusion of investor-state dispute settlement provisions within the proposed EU agreements with China and with the US (the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership). A copy of this research has recently been placed in the Libraries of the House.

UK Trade and Investment

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint on 30 October (WA 272), whether they will publish details of the most recent independent monitoring survey, The performance and impact monitoring survey into the performance of UKTI.

Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint: The latest results of the Performance and Impact Monitoring Survey relating to interviews between October 2012 and September 2013 and services delivered between April 2012 and March 2013 are now on the website: http://www.ukti.gov.uk/uktihome/aboutukti/ourperformance/performanceimpactandmonitoringsurvey/quarterlysurveys.html.

Unemployment: 18-24 Year-olds

Lord Beecham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many 18-24 year-olds are currently unemployed in the north east of England; and what proportion of them have been sanctioned.

Lord Freud: Information on the claimant count for Jobseeker’s Allowance for 18-24 year olds in the North East Region can be found at:
	https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/Default.asp
	The other information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Unemployment: Young People

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact on public health of the number of young adults not in education, employment or training.

Earl Howe: Public Health England (PHE) recognises the challenges for young adults who are not in education, employment or training. PHE has made no formal assessment of the impact on public health, but recognises that young adults who are not in education, employment or training are at risk of poor health caused by a wide range of determinants.
	PHE is collaborating with other stakeholders and taking both preventative and early intervention action to reduce the numbers of young people not in education, employment or training. PHE is also working on key issues that contribute including teenage pregnancy and domestic violence, and will be sustaining its early focus on health and worklessness.
	In particular, PHE is working with the Association of Young People's Services to develop a resource for local authorities to improve how vulnerable groups of young people have their health and wellbeing needs met more effectively. This will be published in the spring of 2014.

United Nations Commission on Population and Development

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they intend to take to ensure that the United Nations review of the International Conference on Population and Development will inform the new millennium development framework.
	To ask Her Majesty’s Government who will represent them at the 2014 Session of the United Nations Commission on Population and Development.
	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the 2014 Session of the United Nations Commission on Population and Development will result in a negotiated outcome document; and, if so, what are their priority areas to be included in such a document.
	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to invite parliamentarians to join the United Kingdom delegation to the United Nations Commission on Population and Development in 2014.

Baroness Northover: The UK Government regards the twentieth anniversary of the landmark Cairo Consensus in 1994 as an opportunity to progress the International Conference on Population and Development’s (ICPD) Programme of Action.
	The UK will work hard to ensure that sexual and reproductive health and rights are reflected in the post-2015 development agenda, and has called for a standalone post-2015 goal on girls and women, and ICPD+20 is an important milestone in this regard. We therefore consider a progressive outcome, reflecting new evidence and developments in sexual and reproductive health and rights, to be the priority from the ICPD+20 process. We will be working closely with both Government and civil society partners to achieve this aim.
	A decision on whether there will be a negotiated outcome is yet to be taken by the Bureau of the Commission on Population and Development. The composition of the UK delegation will be agreed, with DfID as the leading Department, following this decision.

Visas

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have plans to re-examine the procedures for granting visas to visiting academics and other professionals in the light of the refusal of admission to the United Kingdom of Mr Sid-Ahmed Kerzabi.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: There are no plans to re-examine the procedures for granting visit visas, which are well established and understood by millions of visa applicants every year. Visa applicants have to satisfy the Entry Clearance Officer that they meet the requirements of the immigration rules, and provide evidence to show that they do so. We publish guidance on our website for applicants to help them choose the evidence to submit, including suggested supporting documents that they could submit. http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/visiting/business/documents/
	We do not comment on individual cases. But visit visa applicants need to ensure that they submit evidence to show (amongst other things) that they can support themselves whilst in the UK without working or having recourse to public funds; and that they intend to leave the UK upon the completion of their trip.

Water Industry: Competition

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the level of competition in the water supply industry; and whether they have considered whether it should remain in the private sector.

Lord De Mauley: Since privatisation in 1989, the stable regulatory framework for the water sector has enabled companies to attract over £111 billion in low cost investment to upgrade water and sewerage infrastructure, and improve customer service and environmental standards. The Water Bill, which was introduced in June this year, will increase competition in the retail market by allowing all business, charity and public sector customers to switch their water and sewerage supplier. It will also make it much easier for new businesses to enter the water market to provide new sources of water or sewerage treatment services, known as "upstream" services. These reforms will drive efficiency, better services and benefit the environment.

Welsh Government

Lord Wigley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the Welsh Government concerning the interface between policing responsibilities and devolved functions, including social care, community policies and roads, over the first 12 months of the operation of police commissioners in Wales.

Baroness Randerson: While policing and criminal justice are non-devolved matters they do interact, to varying degrees, with those matters for which the Welsh Government has responsibility. Ministers from the Wales Office have regular discussions with the Welsh Government on a variety of issues that affect Wales, including the interface between policing responsibilities and devolved functions.
	The quarterly Home Office Wales Advisory Board also provides a forum to discuss such issues.

Young Offender Institutions: Staff

Baroness Stern: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of staff employed in each young offender institution and secure training centre (1) are qualified psychologists, and (2) are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Young people in custody require a range of support to ensure their safety and help prevent them reoffending on release.
	Information on staff qualifications in under-18 Young Offender Institutions is not collated centrally. This information could only be collected at disproportionate cost.
	All Secure Training Centres (STCs) meet contractual requirements that psychologist provision is in place, comprising of at least one member of staff, to facilitate assessments and inductions should a new young person arrive at the establishment. This provision is allowed to be covered by either a psychologist or assistant psychologist. There is one qualified and registered psychologist at Hassockfield STC. Medway, Rainsbrook and Oakhill STCs each have two Assistant Psychologists who are registered with the British Psychological Association. These psychological staff amount to 1% of staff at each STC. This is based on the entire STC staffing group to deliver 24 hour services at the centre (includes kitchen and maintenance staff, as well as those who work directly with young people).
	In addition to on site psychologist or assistant psychologist provision, both operators of STCs, (Serco and G4S) have contracts with specialist mental health
	providers to whom young people with complex needs can be referred. The contract held with G4S also provides clinical psychological support which can be accessed by the assistant psychologists employed in Medway, Oakhill and Rainsbrook.

Young Offender Institutions: Staff

Baroness Stern: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of staff employed in each young offender institution and secure training centre (1) are qualified speech and language therapists, and (2) are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Young people in custody require a range of support to ensure their safety and help prevent them re-offending on release.
	Information on staff qualifications in under-18 Young Offender Institutions (YOIs) is not collated centrally. This information could only be collected at disproportionate cost. There are no qualified speech and language therapists in Secure Training Centres (STCs).
	Young People in STCs and YOIs with speech and language issues are assessed upon entering custody and during their induction period by education staff. If a young person is identified as requiring specific assistance with speech and language issues the training plan put in place will be tailored to meet this need. Support includes access to an educational psychologist in STCs. In YOIs, young people will have additional contact time with the education provider, and access to an educational psychologist where such provision is in place.